John L Cox is professor emeritus at Keele University, Staffordshire, in the United Kingdom. Professor Cox is internationally recognised for his work in the field of perinatal psychiatry; in particular, for the development of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a screening instrument to identify women suffering from postpartum depression. EPDS is used in both clinical and research contexts. John Cox is a cofounder of the Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health and over the years his work as a practising psychiatrist, researcher and teacher has been rewarded with a number of prestigious prizes. He is one of the founders of modern perinatal psychiatry and made a significant contribution to improving the diagnosis and treatment of women suffering from perinatal depression.